School Business Manager

Job Description

Thank you for being intrigued in the role of Business Manager at Glenwood School. Glenwood is an amazing place to be, for both learners and staff.

Glenwood School will aim for nothing but the best in support of its learners. Its mission is to be transformational. Our model is deeply rooted in making progress that is meaningful for learners and their families.

As School Business Manager at Glenwood School, you will be a member of a daring and dynamic Senior Leadership Team and work closely with a diverse team of education and health professionals.

This is a challenging role which will be demanding in terms of thinking outside the box and coming up with brave and creative solutions. However, support will be there when you need it. We offer the chance to shape a role and to be involved with something very special.

Glenwood is a brave LA community special school for pupils aged 3-19 years. We provide for 231 young people and employ a similar number of staff. We moved into a superb building in September 2017 and we are developing a successful 20 bed residential provision, which is an educational intervention, as part of the school's holistic approach.

This is advertised as a full time, 37 hours per week position, although there is flexibility around hours and pattern of working for the right candidate - please indicate on your application/ covering letter.

This is a term time plus non pupil days, plus three school holiday working weeks position (42 working weeks)
LG pay scale 12£51,515 - £58,625 (Pro-rata: £47,918 - £54,532)

Main purpose of the job:

To advise the Headteacher on strategic issues relating to key aspects of the role and achieve best use of scarce resources whilst ensuring a robust approach to achieving compliance.
To assist with the strategic planning, including all financial implications in accordance with the financial regulations and ensuring that the school makes the best possible use of resources available.
To hold a pivotal role in strategic growth of the school.
To have overarching responsibility to line manage, coordinate and provide quality assurance of the Finance & HR leads and functions.
To be responsible for Estates and Facilities Management, Administration, and all matters within the management of the school which are supportive to, but do not involve, the teaching function.
To be responsible for / effect 'Risk Management', for example to Health and Safety and in the management of any third-party service contracts.

Finance Duties:

To have the strategic steer for all matters relating to the administration of the school's finances and to ensure such matters are handled in accordance with the financial regulations. This includes oversight of the bank accounts, VAT accounting, cash handling, public and private funds.
In consultation with the Headteacher, be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget for approval by the Governing Body ensuring decisions being made are in line with whole school curriculum delivery.
To monitor the actual budget against expenditure and give notice to the Head and governors of any significant variations.
To provide budget details to the SLT (Monthly), and to appropriate governors' meetings throughout the year.
Monitor and oversee the payroll services and salary forecasting in conjunction with workforce forecasting workforce expansion.
To make monthly checks in conjunction with the Finance Manager for bank reconciliation and payroll returns.
To complete returns required by the LA and DfE.
To be responsible for seeking professional advice on insurance and advising the Governing Body and the Headteacher on appropriate insurance for the school. Implementing the approved insurance and handling any claims that arise.
To be responsible for preparation of bids in respect of grant applications.
To prepare and submit quarterly financial returns as required by the LA.
To ensure preparation for and oversight of the annual internal scrutiny audit and ensure follow up of any actions.
Monitoring the quality of goods and services, seek out new suppliers and organise tendering processes in accordance with financial regulation to ensure that the school receives value for money and liaising and guiding senior leaders as part of the process.
To ensure an Assets Register and the Register of Business Interests are maintained.
Act as the school's data protection coordinator - ensuring compliance and staff training, liaising with external DPO over breaches & near misses, managing and coordinating responses to SAR's and FOI requests.
To develop systems and processes in line with a growing school.

Personnel Management:

To provide leadership as required, including direct line management responsibility of HR & Finance leads, Facilities Manager, Technology Staff and Catering Manager.
To co-ordinate the administration for staff recruitment having an overview to ensure compliance and accuracy of the processes.
To manage and advise on the school's apprentice program and whole school training requirements.
To advise the Governors on the policy needed to comply with legislation concerning HR and Finance.
To formulate, monitor and implement the school's safety policy to comply with the requirements of Health and Safety at Work Act and other legislation.
To act as the school's Health and Safety Co-ordinator.

Premises Management:

Lead on reviewing and developing the school's emergency plan (business continuity).
To hold responsibility for ensuring the whole school estate is maintained appropriately including for fire safety, security, upkeep, and maintenance.
To conduct regular reviews of the site in order to identify the main health and safety issue specific to the school and how they relate to students, staff, visitors and contractors.
To know what the elements of fire safety are and the associated risks to the school through the process of risk assessment.
To be responsible for overseeing letting of the school premises to outside organisations, and for the development of all school facilities for out-of-school use, with particular reference to the local community.
To draw up outline specifications for new capital projects, obtaining tenders, obtaining planning permission, and liaison with local authority, building contractors and the school facilities advisor.
To know about risk assessment tools and how to use them to establish hazards within the school and the associated risk involved.
To ensure the maintenance of the incident management guidelines and disaster recovery plan and operate the elements linked to the resource management responsibility.

Whole School Administration:

To have an overview of administrative function including school reception, reprographics, records, and telephones.
To have an overview of systems and general management of the school's administrative and financial computer network and the implementation of appropriate MIS systems.
Have the ability to present to a range of audiences in a professional and compelling way, being able to adapt as appropriate.
Take overarching responsibility for public relations.
Ensure systems are in place for the delivery of high-quality hospitality.

General responsibilities:

To participate in the performance and development review process, taking personal responsibility for identification of learning, development, and training opportunities in discussion with line manager.
To comply with individual responsibilities, in accordance with the role, for health & safety in the workplace.
Ensure that all duties and services provided are in accordance with the School's Equal Opportunities Policy.
The Governing Body is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

The duties above are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder may be required by the Headteacher to carry out appropriate duties within the context of the job, skills and grade

Please Note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.